Gogoi’s mingle mantra for state

A rider jumps over a hurdle at the inter-school equestrian competition in Jorhat on Saturday. Picture by UB Photos

Jorhat, Feb. 22: Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi had an untiring schedule today — playing golf, visiting horse races at Gymkhana Club, attending the first state Youth Fest, the closing ceremony of Assam Agricultural University’s 25th inter-college meet and a programme by singer Angarag Mahanta in his home district.

“This is my brand of politics. To mingle with the common people especially the youth who are the generation next,” he said while taking a jibe at BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s series of campaigns in the state.

He said he does not believe in going in only political campaigns like what Modi has been doing.

“It is this mix of sports, culture and tourism through which, I believe, the state can move forward as with academics,” he said at the concluding ceremony of the Youth Fest at Court Field here.

Gogoi said Gymkhana Club, the organisers of the Jorhat horse races, have been doing a commendable job by keeping the races going, thus preserving the native Mising breed of horses which take part in this derby.

“I have learnt that these horses are not used and have asked the sports minister to incorporate equestrian sports in school curricula. Riding a horse is very good for mind and body and we can have regular competitions in this field,” Gogoi said.

As part of the Jorhat races, an inter-school equestrian competition was held where three schools — Assam Valley, Tezpur, DPS, Numaligarh, and Royal Global Public School, Guwahati, participated.

The race committee of the club organised an eye camp for owners of the horses and jockeys where around 100 spectacles were distributed free. It was organised by Jorhat Lions’ Eye Hospital.

Stressing on skill development of youths, Gogoi said a youth policy would soon be formulated and a state-level youth council set up to look after youth issues. He was speaking at the concluding function of the three-day State Youth Festival 2014 at Kachari Maidan in Jorhat. Gogoi suggested that people from various fields, including trade, entrepreneurship and agriculture would teach skills to the youths. He said for the youths he had proposed setting up of community institutes. Gogoi said the first women’s university would be launched soon.

Sports and youth welfare minister Debabrata Saikia said the festival gave talented youths of different districts a common platform to mingle.